Creative leadership isn’t about chasing the newest tool or platform. It’s about knowing when to innovate, why it matters and how to bring teams along without burning them out.

Across my career, I’ve led teams through rapid technological change, intense competitive pressure and moments when standing still wasn’t an option. The most effective innovations we delivered weren’t driven by novelty — they were driven by audience need and opportunity.

Innovation Starts With a Problem, Not a Product

Some of our most successful experiments began with simple questions:

• What stories aren’t being told well in this market?
• Where are audiences underserved?
• How can technology help us show — not just tell — what’s happening?

During my years at the Bay Area News Group, KRON 4 News Bay Area and ABC 10News San Diego, this mindset shaped how we evaluated emerging tools. Livestreaming, 360° video, interactive maps and data visualization weren’t adopted because they were trending — they were deployed where they added clarity, access or immediacy.

Enhancing Storytelling With Technology

We used livestreams to bring audiences closer to unfolding events, not just breaking news but community moments that mattered. 360° video allowed viewers to experience environments firsthand — particularly valuable in weather events, public safety stories and large-scale community gatherings.

Interactive maps helped audiences navigate complex information visually, especially during emergencies when clarity and speed mattered more than polish.

While at ABC 10News during the COVID-19 pandemic, this approach culminated in the development of a comprehensive COVID dashboard, centralizing critical news, data and public resources in one place. The goal wasn’t traffic — it was trust. We wanted audiences to know exactly where to go when information was changing rapidly and anxiety was high.

That dashboard became a cornerstone of our coverage, combining journalism, public service and technology into a single, accessible experience.

Innovation Beyond the Screen

Some of our most differentiating work happened when we stepped outside the digital space entirely.

Recognizing that livestreaming didn’t need to be limited to breaking news, we looked for ways to bring local culture and community into our coverage in new ways. That led us to livestream:

• Community parades
• High school football games

At the time, this was a first in our market.

These weren’t high-production broadcasts. They were intentional, community-focused experiences designed to reach audiences where they already were — and to tell them their local stories mattered.

The result was differentiation. We weren’t just another station covering the same headlines — we were present in the community in visible, participatory ways that competitors weren’t.

Leading Teams Through Experimentation

Innovation creates pressure. New tools mean new workflows, new expectations and the possibility of failure.

My role as a leader was to:

• Set clear guardrails around experimentation
• Protect teams from burnout
• Normalize iteration rather than perfection
• Ensure innovations aligned with editorial standards

We didn’t adopt technology for technology’s sake. We tested, evaluated, refined and — when necessary— walked away from tools that didn’t serve our goals.

That discipline mattered as much as creativity.

Competitive Advantage Through Purpose

What separated our work from competitors wasn’t access to technology — it was intentional leadership.

By aligning innovation with audience service, editorial integrity and team sustainability, we were able to move fast without losing focus. These strategies contributed to sustained market growth, stronger brand identity and deeper community trust.

The Leadership Lesson

Technology will always change. Tools will come and go.

What lasts is the ability to:

• Identify opportunity
• Empower teams
• Take smart risks
• Stay rooted in purpose

Leading creative teams in high-pressure environments isn’t about having all the answers. It’s about creating the conditions where great ideas can become real — and meaningful.